NORTH TAWTON

From Kelly's Directory of Devon, 1893

Transcribed by Caroline <tilburycm <AT> netscape.net>

NORTH TAWTON ... is a small market town and parish near the old road from Exter to Okehampton, and on the river Taw, which is here crossed by a bridge of four arches, leading to Hatherleigh and Okehampton ... Water was conveyed into the town from Slade Farm, through iron pipes, in the year 1851, at an expense of £600, raised in shares of £5 each. Gas works were erected in 1869, at a cost of £750, and are the property of a company.

The church of St. Peter is an ancient building of rubble and granite, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of six bays, aisles, south porch and a western tower with shingled broach spire, containing a clock, dated 1640, and 6 bells, recast in 1865-70 from a previous peal of four; the tower is of rubble, withe walls of great thickness, and is probably Early English work; the roof of the nave is of panelled oak, the wall plate and bosses beng elegantly carved; there are stained windows at the east end of each aisle, and one in the south to John Chapple (d. 1879) and Lovedy his wife (d. 1858); in the north aisle is a memorial window, with an inscription on brass below it to Sir Edward Gostwyck bart. (d. 1766), and Loveday (Gostwyck), his wife (d. 1786); and to Josias Gard (d. 1825), erected in 1869 by Agnes (Gostwyck), wife of Josiah Gard; she died December 9th, 1870; there is another window in the south aisle with similar inscription to John Kelland Durant (d. 1877), and Sarah Luccombe, his wife (d. 1836); in May 1893 a memorial window was erected by Mr. John Jackman of Welling, Kent, a native of this town, to members of his family, and there are fragments of ancient stained glass in the windows of the north aisle; on the north side of the church is a lime-tree avenue, terminating with a lych gate; there is also a sun-dial fixed on the south wall of the tower; the church affords 600 sittings. The register dates from the year 1538. ... petty sessions are held here alternately with Chulmleigh.

A clock tower of red brick with freestone dressings, from designs by Mr. R. Medley Fulford, architect, of Exeter, was erected in the square by public subscription in 1887, at a cost of £130. Here are large woollen mills, a branch factory belonging to Messrs. J. Shaw and Sons Limited, of Halifax, enlarged in 1887, and employing about 150 persons in the manufacture of blankets and serges; here also are Mr. J. C. Tavener's flour mills. ... Fairs for cattle and horses are held on the 3rd Tuesday in April, 2nd Tuesdy in October and 1st Tuesday in December, and great markets are held on the last Thursdays in February & June, and first Thursday in August. On the hill overlooking the town is a wooden house brought from Norway, belonging to Mrs. Vicary of Enmore, near Bridgwater and now in the occupation of Lieut.-General William Gordon. About a mile from the town is a hollow in the ground called "Bathe Pool", usually dry, but which occasionally fills with water and overflows. ... Near the church is a moated site called Court Green, supposed to have been the ancient seat of the Valletorts. ... The soil is various; subsoil, principally red sandstone. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley and roots. The area is 5,784 acres, rateable value, £8,748: the population in 1891 was 1,737.

Parish Clerk: PYKE Hugh

Postmaster: SKINNER Frank

County Magistrates for South Molton (petty sessions):
   BUDD Francis Nonus, esq., North Tawton
   DUNNING Major Richard Horwood, Lapford, Morchard Bishop
   HOLE Rev. Robert B.A., Rectory, North Tawton
   TANNER Rev. John Vowler B.A., D.L., Rectory, Chawleigh, Chulmleigh
Acting Clerk
FULFORD George Langdon

County Police Station
   KEMBLE Sergeant William, in charge

Public Officers
FULFORD George L.
   Clerk to Commissioners of Taxes
HISLOP Patrick Wood M.B., C.M.
   Certifying Factory Surgeon, Medical Officer & Public Vaccinator,
   North Tawton District, Okehampton Union
PYKE Hugh
   Registrar of Births & Deaths for North Tawton Sub-district
PYKE John Ellis
   Deputy Registrar
RODD Handescombe
   Inland Revenue Officer

Schools
'Middle Class' School (built 1863):
   HOLE Rev. Robert B.A. (committee chairman)
   LOVESEY Charles George (head master)
   GIBBINGS William Durant (hon. sec.)
School Board:
   GOSS Edward (clerk)
   RATTENBURY Hugh, North Tawton (attendance officer)
Board School (boys & girls) (built 1875):
   PIERCE James Chanter (master)
   PIERCE Sarah Louisa (mistress)
Board School (infants) (acquired 1875):
   NEWMAN Annie (mistress)

Railway Station:
   RISBRIDGER George (station master)
South Western Railway Co. agents:
   Lewis & Son
Carriers:
   WEEKES (Hatherleigh to Exeter Thurs., return Sat.)
   BALL (Hatherleigh to North Tawton station daily)

Other
Constitutional Club
   John Ellis PYKE, hon. sec.
Gas Co.
   James Chanter PIERCE, sec.
North Tawton Co-operative Society Limited
   Tom O. BENNETT, sec.
North Tawton School
   Charles George LOVESEY, head master
   William Durant GIBBINGS, hon. sec.
Reading & Recreation Rooms
   Charles LETHEREN, sec.
Water Co.
   Hugh PYKE, sec.